Members of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Council of Arts and Culture Meeting (CACM) met in Port Vila this week to discuss progress of the preparations of the 5th Melanesian Arts and Culture Festival to be hosted by Papua New Guinea in June this year.
The Chair of the MSG CACM, Mr Charles Wea from the FLNKS welcomed all participants on Thursday to the one-day meeting held at the MSG Secretariat in Port Vila, Republic of Vanuatu.
Mr Wea said the purpose of the meeting is to take stock of members progress in their preparations of the upcoming Festival and thanked Papua New Guinea’s Dr Jacob Simet and Dr Andrew Moutu for the detailed progress report of the preparations for the Festival.
The Chair of the MSG CACM also took the opportunity to thank the Government and people of Papua New Guinea for the sustained effort and considerable resources into the planning and organization of a well awaited regional cultural rendez-vous.
Mr Wea also reminded members of the importance of implementing MSG cultural programs and activities to enhance the protection and promotion of Melanesan cultures and values, , especially the ratification of the MSG Treaty on the Protection of Traditional Knowledge and Expression of Culture.
In his Welcome remarks, the Deputy Director General of the MSG Secretariat, Mr Molean Kilepak reminded members that the Melanesian Arts and Culture Festival is a very important milestone in the MSG calendar of events and members are encouraged to confirm their delegations to the Festival in Papua New Guinea in June.
He equally commended Papua New Guinea for the effort to bring the Festival to the people by hosting different activities and side-events in satellite venues around the country.